I am planning to sell my house in a couple of months and I have begun disassembling my current HO scale layout. I was wondering what the best (safe and cost effective) options are for packing rolling stock that have no box. I have around 300 rolling stock (box cars, reefers, tank cars) acquired from train shows that have no boxes. It will probably take at least 2 years for me to relocate, build the new house, and then start working on the new layout.
Thanks.
Doug
Modeling an HO gauge freelance version of the Union Pacific Oregon Short Line and the Utah Railway around 1957 in a world where Pirates from the Great Salt Lake founded Ogden, UT.
- Photo album of layout construction -
How are you moving things and storing them? Do you plan to move everything into a large empty house on arrival, or store things long term?
I rented one of those big storage pods, loaded it, and had it shipped to Delaware form Massachusetts. I stored it there for some time, until I found a house, got the painting done, and then had the pods delivered and unloaded.
This worked OK, but the long time in storage got expensive.
I basically just wrapped everything in newspaper and then in moving boxes. I still haven't opened the boxes to inspect them, but they look OK and nothing has suffered damage from the outside. I packed pretty loosely. This went for locomotives and structures as well.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
I have in the past rolled each piece up in paper towel a placed them in a Tupperware tub. All survived the ordeal with flying colours.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Thanks for the replies.
At this point assuming it will take 1-2 years to get a house built and my plan is once my house sells (or maybe before) to live in an apartment and rent a storage place (10x20?) near the apartment until the house is ready to move into. All the train/layout stuff (including open grid benchwork pieces), tools, bulky stuff, etc etc will go into storage for probably 1 to 2 years.
I immediately thought about wrapping in newspaper, but it has been several years since I have seen a newspaper. I plan to wrap them in something (newspaper? bubble wrap) and place them in moving boxes for storage. All my locomotives/passengers cars have boxes and I plan for them to go back in their plastic tubs for storage. And then I have about 100 unbuilt structure kits and 40 built structure kits that will need to be stored safely.
Do not use newspaper that has ink on it or it will transfer to the model, same with bubble wrap (chemical reaction) I have giant roll ends of unprinted newsprint I use it all the time to wrap stuff and it works well. Once upon a time when there were newspapers my good friend worked the presses and would give us the roll ends which still had about 200 ft on them.
I purchased boxes from Uline. they have a huge variety of sizes. I chose size 14" x 6" x 2" that will hold eight 40' or 50' box cars standing upright. I wrap the boxcars in paper towels.
https://www.uline.com/
https://www.uline.com/Product/AdvSearchResult?KeywordTyped=14%20x%206%20x%202&keywords=14%20X%206%20X%202
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
First, you should never get rid of the original boxes. Since you bought these at shows, this point may be moot - however its valid.
As for storing the models...
1) Clean and visually inspect each model. Repair as needed or what ever is broke, may get broker placing it into storage. Any residues or dirtiness on the model may propagate while stored.
2) Do not use anything other than white tissue paper, or white paper towels, or both. Anything else (or any other color) means there is ink/dye in it. You dont want that transferring to your model. Newspapers, decorative paper towels, or colored tissure papers are NO NOs!
3) Loose wrap the model by placing it side down carefully, ever so easily rolling it loosely until it is wrapped. Use "Scotch" tape to seal the wrap. Any other tape doesnt cut easily, or sticks too much forcing you to manhandle it when unwrapping. This could damage model unwrapping it.
4) After you have rolled and sealed the paper, gently fold the excess paper on ends to leave a 1" gap at each end (coupler protection) while still making the wrap fit in a storage box.
5) Roll loosly an extra sheet of tissue paper or paper towel to use to tuck around the model once in box. You can also line the box if you wish before placing model in, then tuck extra in as needed. Model should not move inside box.
Now, pay attention here.... heres where people loose it. DO NOT, use styrofoam of any kind, or air bubbles, or bubbly wrapping paper. DO NOT! People havent figured out that while these work shipping/storing most items, they DO NOT WORK for model trains!!!!
There hasnt been a styrofoam peanut yet invented that is softer than the details of a model train. You might think "oh, its used for packing, itll work for my trains". NO it wont! Nor will any other stuff i listed. Just DONT DO IT!
Pack your mommas frying pan it styrofoam, but NOT your trains!
Models are to be in a box for storing. Box-in-Box for shipping. And when you store then, do not stack your boxes too high. Im sure your aware not to store them next to heaters or a/c units. But surely keep them inside at room temperature.
DO NOT use a storage unit like PODS, or Storage USA, or other storage unit. Even if they say "were climate controlled". No, they arent. Sure they have heaters and ac units but no one, NO ONE uses them like you need for model trains. Just enuf heat in winter to keep pipes from freezing. In summer, do you really think theyre gonna run those ac's at 72F to chill those uninsulated storage buildings??? Newp!
Also, line your big box with a trash bag. Place models inside, then seal bag, then seal box. Use a heavy tape and just dont seal the top. Seal all around the box. Plastic tubs are nice but arent as durable as boxes.
One last thing, unless your storing these in your home, dont store them on a floor. Use a pallet with plywood top or shelving.
Nobody really thinks storing trains is all that much to do. I beg to differ!
PMR
If your area has a local newspaper, contact the main office and inquire about "end rolls" from the printer.
Local paper in my area that still has a printer in the basement will literally throw them at you, as they pay to throw them away otherwise.
Most have a lot of paper left on them.
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.
Looking back, I seem to recall getting rolls of wrapping paper rater than newspaper. I had the same concerns about ink bleeding onto models.
It might be better to unload pods into a storage space. The pods will cost more for monthly storage.
Check out The Container Store, find what best suits your space, and wrap each car in a paper towel.
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
Agree with PMR. Really much of what he said is common sense.
BTW, I've had people tell me they stored trains in a place where it was not climate controlled and it was "ok". Well, are you feeling lucky?
I was in transition for a couple years living with my sister, and she put my train boxes in the garage. I immediately put them back inside where the temperature was controlled for us humans (A/C in summer and heat in winter). The garage could get quite hot in the summer and for me that was a no-no. I found closet space where the trains could be stored in a comfortable try environment. There is too much money wrapped up in these things to risk damaging them in extreme heat or cold.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
Wrapping each car in lot of bubble wrap would be the best way to secure them, IMO. Wrapping them tightly and taping them up. About as expensive as buying a bunch of small boxes, if not cheaper.
I'd use tubs and put the boxcars on the bottom of the tub, then stack hoppers, and then tank cars last because of their railings on the top.
I agree with trying to keep them stored in a cool dry area. But storage lockers aren't bad. A middle unit is insulated from extreme heat on both sides and the roof keeps the sun off
- Douglas
Found out all bubble wrap is not the same. I used it, no problems for my stuff but I have seen others that you could tell used it and it did not look good. You can get replacement boxes from Accurail for a little over $1 a piece, that is what I did. The bubble will work if you wrap a bit of acid free tissue paper around it first, Amazon has it for 30 cents per huge sheet.
I use boxes like the ones in the link. The ones I have have 3 trays per box but I can't figure out where i got them from. These are the closest I can find that match.
I moved from Houston to Seattle with my train cars that did not have boxes and they did well.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/272910434366
Note: This is not my listing. It is similar to what I use.
Colorado Front Range Railroad: http://www.coloradofrontrangerr.com/
I use transparent document boxes (named "200-yen document case no.2"). Those are big enough to hold letter-sized magazines, and $2.00 per box for Daiso-Japan. It may also be available at Daiso-USA near you. You can see how useful it is by looking at the picture. I have been keeping 200 boxes.
The papers that wrap the models are Kimwipe, which were developed to wipe off oil from machine tools, and are characterized by their resistance to dust. Among them, this "Wipers L-100" is 18.500 x 16.730-inch (470 x 425-mm) in size, so it is ideal for HO scale freight cars. (https://pro.crecia.co.jp/index.html)
Crumpled newspaper does a great outer job. Just up against the cardboard box, but outside the models and their wrappings. So, peeling the onion, you see a good cardboard box, crumpled newspaper, then the wrapped models snuggled up against each other.
For wrapping, I used the torn up remnants of sheets you can purchase for painting wipes. They come in a hard-stuffed plastic bag, or more like a square bale.
Tip: write a coarse 'inventory' or descriptor of what's inside on the closed and taped flaps. In fact, maybe a hand-written comprehensive inventory on a sheet just under the flaps. For example, you pick up an unmarked box. Is this the one with all the coal hoppers, or are they in one of the other six? Which box has your Class J 4-8-4 you got off eBay that came in a carton, but not the original packaging?
I am going through a move. I have acquired scores (ok probably a hundred) new cars in the last 10 years; i have the original boxes for them. They went in clear plastic tubs I bought from Walmart that have six latches on top. Very secure, waterproof, and best of all, I can see what is inside. I have scores (probably a couple of hundred) of loose cars and engines that are stored in Barkley's Better Boxes. I have 30 or so newer engines in their original boxes that are also in clear plastic tubs.